Council minutes, June 2008

SECTION 5 OF THE VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING

Date: June 10, 2008

Time: 7:30 PM

Place: 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Village Hall

Present: Margy Abbott; Peter Gray; Frances L. Higgins; Chris Richardson; Ira Rosenbaum, Andrew Smith; 3 Section 5 residents

Andrew moved that the May 13, 2008, Council meeting minutes be approved as amended by email. Margy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Paul Kaplan said that Ellen’s Run was begun in memory of Ellen Schneider, a Woodbine Street resident, who died two years ago. The run raised $90,000 in the last two years. There were 580 participants in the first year and 720 in the second. The proceeds from this run are given to the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Community Scholarship Fund. Section 5 has contributed money in the past to help defray the expenses of the run. There was some discussion. Andrew moved that Section 5 donate $5,000 to help with the expenses of Ellen’s Run this fall. Margy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Andrew said that Montgomery County Council has expressed an interest in charging a fee for ambulance service; however, the Council did not pass an ordinance this year which would allow the County to charge such a fee.

Andrew said that Section 5 receives a certain amount of money from the County which Section 5 may spend to procure property to be used as open space. Section 5 does not have any property in its boundaries which it could use this money to purchase. The manager will determine if Section 5 will loose this money if it is not spent this year.

Peter interviewed the managers from Section 3 and Martin’s Additions and the mayor of the Town of Chevy Chase about their experience employing extra police protection. These two managers were not able to give data which supports the idea that extra police protection deters crime; however, each said that extra police protection provides residents with some sense of security.

Peter said that Section 5 could employ extra police protection on a trial basis for three months and at the end of that period decide if it would like to continue with this service. Andrew said that he thought the trial period should be at least six months. The manager will call the two towns and ask how many hours per month each town employs extra police protection. Peter will contact Skip Baylor, Director, Crime Analysis Section, Montgomery County Police to request the specific nature and results of the crimes reported in Section 5.

Kevin Bromberg presented a copy of a proposal which Section 5 will send to urban planning companies in an attempt to get these companies to present bids. The Council will use these proposals to determine which firm to employ to help Section 5 Council create a zoning ordinance. Kevin said that the County is the process of creating a zoning ordinance which will address lot coverage and he is concerned that Section 5’s new zoning ordinance may be less stringent than the County’s proposed ordinance. Section 5 may not enact a zoning ordinance which is less stringent than the County’s. There was some discussion. The manager will contact Geoff in the Village and ask for addresses to whom to send this proposal and she will also ask who the Village used to review the proposals which Section 5 may receive from town planning companies. Kevin said that the County Council will have a meeting June 17th regarding its proposed new zoning ordinance.

Some residents have asked the Council to rent a shredder for them to shred private documents. The Town of Chevy Chase rents a shredder for its residents in conjunction with its bulk trash collection. The manager will call the Town and see if it is interested in the sharing the cost of a shredder with Section 5.

Margy said that Section 5 has received $410,000 to date in State income taxes and last year it had received $459,000 at the same time. Section 5 will receive one more income tax check before June 30th, the end of this fiscal year. To date Section 5 has received $480,195.23 in revenues and has spent $257,290.77. Margy recommended that the Council give the 227 households in Section 5 a rebate of $1,000 for the fiscal year 2008. There was some discussion. Andrew moved that Section 5 give a rebate of $1,000 to each of the 227 households in Section 5; this amount will cover a real estate tax rebate and the solid waste charge. Chris seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Permit was issued:

• 3817 Woodbine St. – screened porch in rear

Peter said that the owner of 7203 Brookville Road has erected a fence that is not in code and that a pool in that yard has stagnant water which presents a health hazard. He has contacted Alan Beal to inspect the fence and the pool and report the pool violation to the County. The manager will contact Alan and ask about the status of the investigation. Kevin asked about the cost of pervious surfaces which are needed to comply with the new storm water management ordinance. Andrew told him that Section 3 residents have not found compliance with their storm water management ordinance to be onerous. Section 5’s storm water management ordinance is very similar to Section 3’s.

Section 5 received a request from the B-CC Rescue Squad for a donation. There was some discussion. Margy moved that Section 5 donate $5,000 to the B-CC Rescue Squad; Peter seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Peter asked if anyone would attend the County Council meeting on Thursday, May 15 concerning the County budget. The manager agreed to attend. She will write a letter addressed to the County Council stating that Section 5’s Council opposes the real estate tax increase which the County Council has proposed and email it to Section 5’s Council for approval. She will then take copies of this letter to the County Council members on Thursday, May 15, 2008.

Andrew moved that the meeting adjourn; there was a second and the motion passed unanimously. The next Council meeting will be held September 9, 2008, at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue, at 7:30pm.